Siderail movable to separate chair egress position

ABSTRACT

A patient support apparatus includes a base, a frame coupled to the base, and a deck supported by the frame and capable of moving relative to the frame. The patient support apparatus further includes a siderail movable between a stowed position substantially below the deck, a barrier position preventing a patient from exiting the side of the patient support apparatus, and an assist position providing a handhold for a patient exiting the bed.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is related to a support apparatus for supportinga patient. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a bedthat can be manipulated to achieve both a horizontal bed position havinga horizontal support surface and a chair egress position having the feetof the patient on or adjacent to the floor and the head and back of thepatient supported above a seat formed by the support surface.

It is known to provide beds that have a siderail assembly coupled to aportion of the support surface. The siderail assemblies may be movableindependently of one another between a raised position and a loweredposition. The siderail assemblies may be used in the raised position toretain patients resting on the support surface and in the loweredposition to transfer patients from the bed to another support apparatus,allow a caregiver improved access to the patient, or to help withentering and exiting the bed.

It is also known that patients egress from a side of the bed. Before thepatient is able to egress, the patient must rotate the patient's body onthe support surface to face toward the side, swing the patient's legsover the side of the bed, and remain sitting in an upright positionwithout support from the support surface to the patient's back. Suchcoordinated movement to egress from the side of the bed may be difficultfor some patients. As a result, egress from the chair egress position ofthe bed may be more suitable to some patients. With the bed in the chairegress position, the patient begins with the patient's feet resting onthe floor, the patient sitting in the upright position, and thepatient's back being supported by the support surface. To egress fromthe bed, the patient supports a portion of the patient's weight on thesupport surface on each side of the patient or on a caregiver standingnext to the bed. The patient then leans forward and transfers theremaining weight to the patient's feet.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited inthe appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in anycombination, may comprise patentable subject matter.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatusincludes a base, a frame coupled to the base, a deck, and a firstsiderail. The frame is movable relative to the base. The deck issupported by the frame and is movable relative to the frame between ahorizontal bed position and a chair egress position. The deck includesat least a head section, a foot section spaced-apart from the headsection, and a seat section positioned between the head section and thefoot section. The first siderail is coupled to the frame. The firstsiderail has a first barrier. The first siderail is movable between abarrier position wherein the first barrier is substantially above thedeck and outside a deck footprint, a stowed position wherein the firstbarrier is substantially below the deck, and an assist position whereinthe first barrier is substantially above the deck and inside the deckfootprint. The deck footprint is defined by a length dimension of thedeck extending from a head end of the deck to a foot end of the deck anda width dimension of the deck extending along the foot end of the deck.

In some embodiments, the patient support may include a second siderailcoupled to the frame having a second barrier. The second siderail may bemovable between a barrier position wherein the second barrier issubstantially above the deck and outside the deck footprint, a stowedposition wherein the second barrier is substantially below the deck, andan assist position wherein the first barrier is substantially above thedeck and in the deck footprint. The first barrier and the second barriermay be a first distance apart when the first siderail and the secondsiderail are in the barrier position and less than the first distanceapart when the first siderail and the second siderail are in the assistposition.

The first siderail may include a linkage having a mount coupled to theframe, a first bar, and a second bar. The first bar and the second barmay be pivotably coupled to the first barrier and to the mount betweenthe mount and the first barrier. The first bar may have a first endpivotably coupled to the first barrier and a second end pivotablycoupled to the mount. The first end of the first bar may pivot about afirst axis substantially parallel to the length dimension of the deckand the second end of the first bar may pivot about a second axissubstantially parallel to the length dimension of the deck.

It is contemplated that the first siderail further may include a slideshaft. The slide shaft may be coupled to the first bar and the secondbar and may be operable to move the first barrier, the first bar, andthe second bar along a path substantially perpendicular to the lengthdimension of the deck.

In some embodiments, the linkage may extend outside the deck footprintwhen the siderail is in the barrier position and the stowed position.Further, the linkage may be situated in the deck footprint when thesiderail is in the assist position. The first siderail may also includea slide shaft coupled to the first barrier and operable to move thesiderail between the barrier position and the assist position.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a patient support apparatusincludes a base, a frame, a deck, a mattress, and a first siderail. Theframe is coupled to the base and is movable relative to the base. Thedeck has a head end, a foot end spaced-apart from the head end andsubstantially parallel to the head end, a first side extending betweenthe head end and the foot end and substantially perpendicular to thehead end, and a second side spaced-apart from the first side andextending substantially parallel to the first side between the head endand the foot end. The deck is supported by the frame and is movablerelative to the frame between a horizontal bed position and a chairegress position. The mattress is supported on the deck. The firstsiderail is coupled to the frame and the first siderail has a firstbarrier. The first siderail is movable between a barrier positionwherein a top surface of the barrier extends above a top surface of themattress and the mattress has a first width between the first side andthe second side of the deck along the length of the first barrier, astowed position wherein the top surface of the first barrier is belowthe top surface of the mattress, and an assist position wherein the topsurface of the first barrier is above the top surface of the mattressand the first barrier engages the mattress to cause the mattress to havea second width between the first side and the second side of the deckalong the length of the first barrier, and the second width is less thanthe first width.

In some embodiments, the patient support apparatus may include a secondsiderail coupled to the frame having a second barrier. The secondsiderail may be movable between a barrier position wherein a top surfaceof the second barrier extends above a top surface of the mattress andthe mattress has a first width between the first side and the secondside of the deck along the length of the second barrier, a stowedposition wherein the top surface of the second barrier is below the topsurface of the mattress, and an assist position wherein the top surfaceof the second barrier is above the top surface of the mattress and thesecond barrier engages the mattress to cause the mattress to have asecond width between the first side and the second side of the deckalong the length of the first barrier and the second barrier, and thesecond width is less than the first width.

It is contemplated that the first siderail may include a linkage havinga first bar and a second bar wherein the first bar and the second barare pivotably coupled to the first barrier and to the frame. The firstbar may have a first end pivotably coupled to the first barrier and asecond end pivotably coupled to the frame. The first end of the firstbar may pivot about a first axis substantially parallel to the lengthdimension of the deck and the second end of the first bar may pivotabout a second axis substantially parallel to the length dimension ofthe deck.

The first siderail may further include a slide shaft coupled to thefirst barrier and operable to move the first barrier along a pathsubstantially perpendicular to the first side of the deck. The firstsiderail may further include a first slide assembly coupled to the firstbarrier and operable to move the siderail between the barrier positionand the assist position. The slide assembly may include a slide shaftmovable relative to the frame and a shaft lock. The shaft lock may bemovable between a locked position disallowing movement of the slideshaft relative to the frame and an unlocked position allowing movementof the slide shaft relative to the frame.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a patient support apparatusincludes a base, a frame coupled to the base, a deck, and a firstsiderail. The deck is supported by the frame and is movable relative tothe frame between a substantially horizontal bed position and a chairegress position. The deck includes at least a head section, a footsection spaced-apart from the head section, and a seat section situatedbetween the head section and the foot section. The deck further includesa head end, a foot end spaced-apart from the head end and substantiallyparallel to the head end, a first side extending between the head endand the foot end and substantially perpendicular to the head end, and asecond side spaced-apart from the first side and extending substantiallyparallel to the first side between the head end and the foot end, and afirst notch formed in the deck between the head section and the footsection and extending from the first side toward the second side of thedeck. The first siderail is coupled to the frame having a first barrierand a first linkage. The first siderail is movable between a barrierposition in which the first barrier is substantially above the deck andthe first linkage is out of the first notch, a stowed position in whichthe first barrier is substantially below the deck, and an assistposition in which the first barrier is substantially above the deck andthe first linkage is in the first notch.

It is contemplated that the patient support apparatus may have a secondsiderail coupled to the frame having a second barrier and a secondlinkage. In such embodiments, the deck may include a second notch formedin the deck between the head section and the foot section and extendingfrom the second side toward the first side of the deck. The secondsiderail may be movable between a barrier position in which the secondbarrier is substantially above the deck and the second linkage is out ofthe second notch, a stowed position in which the second barrier issubstantially below the deck, and an assist position in which the secondbarrier is substantially above the deck and the second linkage is in thesecond notch. The first linkage may include a first bar and a second barpivotably interconnecting the first barrier and the frame for movementof the first barrier relative to the deck.

In some embodiments, the deck includes a deck footprint defined by alength dimension of the deck extending from a head end of the deck to afoot end of the deck and a width dimension of the foot section of thedeck. The barrier of the first siderail may be substantially above thedeck and outside a deck footprint when the siderail assembly is in thebarrier position. The barrier may be substantially below the deck whenin the stowed position. The barrier may also be in the deck footprintwhen in the stowed position. The barrier may be substantially above thedeck and in the footprint when in the assist position.

In some embodiments, the first siderail may include a first slide shaftcoupled to the first barrier and may cause the first siderail to slidelaterally between the barrier position and the assist position. In suchembodiments, the slide shaft may be operable to move the first barrieralong a path substantially perpendicular to the first side of the deck.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any otherfeature(s), including those listed above, those listed in the claims,and those described in detail below, may comprise patentable subjectmatter. Other features will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention aspresently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a patient support apparatus in a chairegress position with a pair of siderails in a barrier position andsuggesting movement of the siderails inwardly to an assist position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded partial perspective view of the siderailof FIG. 1 showing a slide assembly in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assemble slide assembly of FIG. 2showing the slide assembly includes a slide lock in a locked position;

FIG. 4. is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the siderail in the barrierposition;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the siderail in the assistposition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another siderail in accordance with thepresent disclosure showing the siderail in a stowed position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the siderail of FIG. 6 in abarrier position; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the siderail of FIGS. 6 and 7in an assist position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A patient support apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is illustratively embodiedas a hospital bed 10 having a base 12, a frame 13, a deck 14, and amattress 16. The frame 13 is supported above the base 12 and is moveablerelative to the base 12. The deck 14 is supported above the frame 13.The deck 14 supports the mattress 16. The deck 14 is movable between ahorizontal bed position (not shown), wherein the deck 14 is generallyflat, and a chair egress position, wherein the deck 14 is arranged toallow a patient to egress or exit the bed 10 from a sitting position asshown in FIG. 1. As an example, the hospital bed 10 includes a siderail32 that is movable between a stowed position, a barrier position shownin FIGS. 1 and 4, and an assist position shown in FIG. 5. In the assistposition, a patient may support a portion of his or her weight on thesiderail during egress from the hospital bed 10.

The deck 14 has a head end 18, a foot end 20 spaced-apart from andgenerally parallel to the head end 18, a first side 22 extending betweenthe head end 18 and the foot end 20, and a second side 24 spaced-apartfrom and generally parallel to the first side 22. The deck 14 defines afootprint (not shown) with a length 27 defined to be between the headend 18 and the foot end 20 and a width 25 defined to be between thefirst side 22 and the second side 24 as shown in FIG. 1.

The deck 14 includes a head section 26, a seat section 28, and a footsection 30. The head section 26 is pivotably coupled to the frame 13.The foot section 30 is pivotably coupled to the frame 13. The seatsection 28 is situated between the head section 26 and the foot section30. The seat section 28 is formed to include a first notch 31 shown inFIG. 4 and a second notch 33 shown in FIG. 1. The first notch 31 extendsfrom the first side 22 of the deck 14 toward the second side 24 of thedeck 14. The second notch 33 is generally a mirror of the first notch 31and it extends from the second side 24 of the deck 14 toward the firstside 22 of the deck 14.

The bed 10 also includes a first siderail 32 coupled to the frame 13 anda second siderail 34 coupled to the frame 13 as shown in FIG. 1. Thefirst siderail 32 includes a barrier 36, a linkage 38, and a slideassembly 40 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The first siderail 32 and thesecond siderail 34 are movable between a stowed position, a barrierposition, and an assist position. The structure of the second siderail34 is similar to the structure of the first siderail 32, and thus, onlythe first siderail 32 will be discussed in detail.

The linkage 38 includes an upper bar 42, a lower bar 44, and a mount 46as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The upper bar 42 has a first end 48 and a secondend 50. The first end 48 of the upper bar 42 is pivotably coupled to thebarrier 36. The second end 50 of the upper bar 42 is pivotably coupledto the mount 46. The lower bar 44 has a first end 52 and a second end54. The first end 52 of the lower bar 44 is pivotably coupled to thebarrier 36 below the first end 48 of the upper bar 42. The second end 54of the lower bar 44 is pivotably coupled to the mount 46 below thesecond end 50 of the upper bar 42.

The linkage 38 is operable to guide the barrier 36 between a raised anda lowered position while maintaining the barrier 36 in a substantiallyvertical orientation. In the raised position, the upper bar 42 and thelower bar 44 extend above the mount 46. Additionally, when the barrier36 is in the raised position, a top surface 51 of the barrier 36 liesabove a top surface 53 of the mattress 16. In the lowered position, theupper bar 42 and the lower bar 44 extend below the mount 46.Additionally, when the barrier 36 is in the lowered position, the topsurface 51 of the barrier 36 is situated below the top surface 53 of themattress 16. In the illustrative embodiment, the barrier 36 is movedbetween the raised position and a lowered position by a caregivermanually moving the barrier 36. In other embodiments, movement of thebarrier 36 between the raised and lowered positions may be accomplishedby a powered stepper motor, a pneumatic piston and linkage, or any othersuitable powered arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slide assembly 40 of the siderail 32 includes aslide housing 56, a slide lock 58, and a slide shaft 60 having a topside 62 and a bottom side 64 spaced-apart from and substantiallyparallel to the top side 62. The slide shaft 60 includes a slide shafthead 65 formed at one end of the slide shaft 60, a first indentation 66,and a second indentation 68. The first indentation 66 extends from thebottom side 64 toward the top side 62 of the slide shaft 60. The secondindentation 68 is spaced-apart from the first indentation 66 and extendsfrom the bottom side 64 toward the top side 62 of the slide shaft 60 asshown in FIG. 3.

The slide lock 58 includes a lock pin 70 and an actuator 72. Lock pin 70is coupled to the slide housing 56. The actuator 72 in the illustrativeembodiment is a mechanical linkage coupled to a servo. In otherembodiments, other suitable actuation devices may be employed such aselectric motors, pneumatic cylinders, or the like. The actuator may alsobe either actuated by a caregiver applying a manual actuation force.

The slide housing 56 includes a front side 74, a back side 76spaced-apart from and substantially parallel to the front side 74, a topside 78 extending substantially perpendicular to and between the frontside 74 and the back side 76, and a bottom side 80 spaced-apart from thetop side 78 and extending substantially perpendicular to and between thefront side 74 and the back side 76. The top side 78 of the slide housing56 is coupled to the frame 13. The slide housing 56 is also formed toinclude a channel 82 extending from the front side 74 to the back side76 through the slide housing 56.

The slide shaft 60 is slidable relative to the slide housing 56 and theframe 13. The slide shaft 60 lies in the channel 82 and extends throughthe front side 74 through the back side 76 of the slide housing 56. Themount 46 is coupled to the slide shaft 60 to cause the slide shaft 60 toextend toward and through the front side 74 of the slide housing 56. Themount 46 is sized to be larger than the channel 82 so that the mount isblocked from moving through the channel 82. The slide shaft head 65 issized to be larger than the channel 82 and is arranged so that the slidehousing 56 lies between the slide shaft head 65 and the mount 46. Thus,the mount 46 and the slide shaft head 65 block the slide shaft 60 fromsliding out of engagement with the slide housing 56.

The mount 46 is movable between an extended position and a retractedposition relative to the slide housing 56 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Inthe extended position, the mount 46 is spaced-apart from the front side74 of the slide housing 56 and the slide shaft head 65 is in confrontingrelation with the back side 76 of the slide housing 56. In the retractedposition, the mount 46 is in confronting relation with the front side 74of the slide housing 56 and the slide shaft head 65 is spaced-apart fromthe back side 76 of the slide housing 56. The mount 46 is moved betweenthe extended position and the retracted position by a mover 84. Themover 84 is coupled to the slide shaft head 65. In the illustrativeembodiment, the mover 84 is a pneumatic cylinder. In other embodiments,other suitable mover devices may be employed such as electric motors,servos, or the like. In another embodiment, the mover 84 may be acaregiver using force supplied by the caregiver to move the mountbetween the retracted and extended positions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the barrier 36 includes a first user interface 86and a second user interface 88. The first user interface 86 is coupledto an outward side of the barrier 36 for use by a caregiver (not shown).The second user interface 88 is coupled to an inward side of the barrier36 for use by a patient (not shown). Both the first and second userinterfaces 86, 88 are coupled electrically to a bed controller 90included in the hospital bed 10 as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. Theuser interfaces 86, 88 are configured to allow caregivers and patientsto control movement of the slide lock 88, the mover 84, and otheraspects of the hospital bed 10.

As a result of the barrier 36 being coupled to the mount 46 by thelinkage 38, movement of the mount 46 between the extended position andthe retracted position also causes the barrier 36 to move relative tothe deck 14. When the mount 46 is moved to the extended position, thebarrier 36 lies out of the footprint of the deck 14. When the mount 46is moved to the retracted position, the barrier 36 lies in the footprintof the deck 14.

The mount 46 is maintained in the extended position and the retractedposition by the slide lock 58 as shown in FIG. 3. The lock pin 70 of theslide lock 58 is movable between a locked position and an unlockedposition. In the locked position, the lock pin 70 maintains the positionof the mount 46 relative to the slide housing 56. In the lockedposition, the lock pin 70 engages the first indentation 66 or the secondindentation 68 and disallows movement of the slide shaft 60 relative tothe slide housing 56. When the mount 46 is in the extended position, thelock pin 70 engages the first indentation 66 to maintain the position ofthe mount 46. When the mount 46 is in the retracted position, the lockpin 70 engages the second indentation 68 to maintain the position of themount 46. In the unlocked position, the lock pin 70 is moved out ofengagement with both the first and the second indentations 66, 68. Theactuator 72 is operable to move the lock pin 70 between the lockedposition to the unlocked position.

The first siderail 32 is movable between a stowed position, the barrierposition of FIG. 4, and the assist position of FIG. 5. In the stowedposition of the first siderail 32, the barrier 36 is moved to thelowered position and the mount 46 is moved to the extended position.Thus, the top surface 51 of the barrier 36 is below the top surface 53of the mattress 16 making a patient supported on the bed 10 accessibleto a caregiver. Additionally, the barrier 36 lies out of the footprintof the deck 14 making the barrier 36 available to a caregiver for manualmovement of the barrier 36 to the raised position. In other embodiments,the mount 46 may be moved to the retracted position when the firstsiderail 32 is in the stowed position so that the width of the bed 10 isminimized.

In the barrier position of the first siderail 32, the barrier 36 ismoved to the raised position and the mount 46 is moved to the extendedposition. Thus, the top surface 51 of the barrier 36 is above the topsurface 53 of the mattress 16 so that a patient is retained andsupported on the bed 10. Additionally, the barrier 36 lies out of thefootprint of the deck 14 making the entire footprint of the deck 14available to support a patient.

In the assist position of the first siderail 32, the barrier 36 is movedto the raised position and the mount 46 is moved in a lateral direction92 from the extend position of FIG. 4 to the retracted position of FIG.5. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mount moves a distance 94 when movingfrom the extended position to the retracted position. Thus, the topsurface 51 of the barrier 36 remains above the top surface 53 of themattress 16. Additionally, the barrier 36 lies in the footprint of thedeck 14 and is situated in the first notch 31. Further, in the assistposition of the first siderail 32, the barrier 36 engages the mattress16 and reduces the width of the mattress 16 along the length of thefirst siderail 32. When the deck 14 is in the chair egress position andthe first siderail 32 is in the assist position, a patient can push downon the top surface 51 of the first siderail 32 to support a portion of aportion of his or her weight when standing up out of the bed 10.

Another embodiment of a bed 210 is shown in FIGS. 6-8. In the embodimentshown in FIGS. 6-8, the siderail 32 is omitted from the bed 10 andreplaced with a siderail 232. The siderail 232 includes the barrier 36and a linkage 238. Additionally, the siderail 232 is movable between astowed position illustrated in FIG. 6, a barrier position illustrated inFIG. 7, and an assist position illustrated in FIG. 8.

The linkage 238 includes an upper bar 242, a lower bar 244, and a mount246. The upper bar 242 has a first end 248 and a second end 250. Thefirst end 248 of the upper bar 242 is pivotably coupled to the barrier236. The second end 250 of the upper bar 242 is pivotably coupled to themount 246. The lower bar 244 has a first end 252 and a second end 254.The first end 252 of the lower bar 244 is pivotably coupled to thebarrier 236 below the first end 248 of the upper bar 242. The second end254 of the lower bar 244 is pivotably coupled to the mount 246 below thesecond end 250 of the upper bar 242.

The linkage 238 is operable to guide the barrier 236 between a loweredposition shown in FIG. 6, a raised position shown in FIG. 7, and an overraised position shown in FIG. 8. In the lowered position, the upper bar242 and the lower bar 244 extend below the mount 246. In the raisedposition, the upper bar 242 and the lower bar 244 extend above the mount46. In the over raised position, the upper bar 242 and the lower bar 244extend above the mount 46 and the upper bar 242 is overlapped by thelower bar 244 and both the bars 242, 244 extend in a generally upwarddirection. In the illustrative embodiment, the barrier 236 is movedbetween the lowered position, raised position, and over raised positionby a caregiver manually moving the barrier 236. In other embodiments,movement of the barrier 236 between the raised and lowered positions maybe accomplished by a powered stepper motor, a pneumatic piston andlinkage, or any other suitable powered arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 6, the siderail 232 is movable to the stowed positionwhich corresponds with the lowered position of the barrier 236. When thesiderail 232 is in the stowed position, the top surface 51 of thebarrier 236 lies below the top surface 53 of the mattress 16.Additionally, the barrier 236 lies out of the footprint of the deck 14making the barrier 236 available to a caregiver for manual movement ofthe barrier 236 to the raised position or over raised position. In otherembodiments, the barrier 236 may lie in the footprint of the deck 14when the siderail 232 is in the stowed position.

As shown in FIG. 7, the siderail 232 is movable to the barrier positionwhich corresponds with the raised position of the barrier 236. When thesiderail 232 is in the barrier position, the top surface 251 of thebarrier 236 is above the top surface 53 of the mattress 16 and is usedto retain a patient that is supported on the bed 210. Additionally, thebarrier 236 lies out of the footprint of the deck 14 so that the entirefootprint of the deck 14 is available to support the patient.

As shown in FIG. 8, the siderail 232 is movable from the barrierposition to the assist position which corresponds with the over raisedposition of the barrier 236 by moving the barrier in the lateraldirection 92 the distance 94 as shown in FIG. 8. When the siderail 232is in the assist position, the top surface 251 of the barrier 236remains above the top surface 53 of the mattress 16 to retain a patientsupported on the bed 210. At the same time, the barrier 236 is situatedin the first notch 31. Further, in the assist position of the siderail232, the barrier 236 engages the mattress 16 and reduces the width ofthe mattress 16 along the length of the siderail 232. When the deck 14is in the chair egress position and the siderail 232 is in the assistposition, a patient can push down on the top surface 251 of the siderail232, as a hand rail, to assist the patient when standing up out of thebed 210.

Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detailabove, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit ofthis disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.

1. A patient support apparatus comprising a base, a frame coupled to thebase, the frame being movable relative to the base, a deck supported bythe frame and movable relative to the frame between a horizontalposition and a chair egress position, the deck including at least a headsection, a foot section spaced-apart from the head section, and a seatsection positioned between the head section and the foot section, and afirst siderail coupled to the frame, the first siderail including afirst barrier, wherein the first siderail is movable between a barrierposition wherein the first barrier is substantially above the deck andoutside a deck footprint, a stowed position wherein the first barrier issubstantially below the deck, and an assist position wherein the firstbarrier is substantially above the deck and inside the deck footprint,wherein the deck footprint is defined by a length dimension of the deckextending from a head end of the deck to a foot end of the deck and awidth dimension of the foot section of the deck.
 2. The patient supportapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second siderail coupled tothe frame, the second siderail including a second barrier, wherein thesecond siderail is movable between a barrier position wherein the secondbarrier is substantially above the deck and outside the deck footprint,a stowed position wherein the second barrier is substantially below thedeck, and an assist position wherein the first barrier is substantiallyabove the deck and in the deck footprint.
 3. The patient supportapparatus of claim 2, wherein the first barrier and the second barrierare a first distance apart when the first siderail and the secondsiderail are in the barrier position and less than the first distanceapart when the first siderail and the second siderail are in the assistposition.
 4. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firstsiderail includes a linkage including a mount coupled to the frame, afirst bar, and a second bar, the first bar and the second bar pivotablycoupled to the first barrier and to the mount between the mount and thefirst barrier.
 5. The patient support apparatus of claim 4, wherein thefirst bar has a first end pivotably coupled to the first barrier and asecond end pivotably coupled to the mount, wherein the first end of thefirst bar pivots about a first axis substantially parallel to the lengthdimension of the deck and the second end of the first bar pivots about asecond axis substantially parallel to the length dimension of the deck.6. The patient support apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first siderailfurther includes a slide shaft coupled to the first bar and the secondbar and operable to move the first barrier, the first bar, and thesecond bar along a path substantially perpendicular to the lengthdimension of the deck.
 7. The patient support apparatus of claim 4,wherein the linkage extends out of the deck footprint when the firstsiderail is in the barrier position and the stowed position and thelinkage lies in the deck footprint when the first siderail is in theassist position.
 8. The patient support apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first siderail also includes a slide shaft coupled to the firstbarrier to move the first siderail between the barrier position and theassist position.
 9. A patient support apparatus comprising a base, aframe coupled to the base, the frame being movable relative to the base,a deck including a head end, a foot end spaced-apart from the head endand substantially parallel to the head end, a first side extendingbetween the head end and the foot end and substantially perpendicular tothe head end, and a second side spaced-apart from the first side andextending substantially parallel to the first side between the head endand the foot end, the deck supported by the frame and movable relativeto the frame between a horizontal position and a chair egress position,a mattress supported on the deck, and a first siderail coupled to theframe including a first barrier, wherein the first siderail is movablebetween a barrier position wherein a top surface of the barrier liesabove a top surface of the mattress and the mattress has a first widthdefined between the first side and the second side of the deck along alength of the first barrier, a stowed position wherein the top surfaceof the first barrier lies below the top surface of the mattress, and anassist position wherein the top surface of the first barrier lies abovethe top surface of the mattress and the first barrier engages themattress to cause the mattress to have a second width defined betweenthe first side and the second side of the deck along the length of thefirst barrier, and the second width is less than the first width. 10.The patient support apparatus of claim 9, further including a secondsiderail coupled to the frame having a second barrier, wherein thesecond siderail is movable between a barrier position wherein a topsurface of the second barrier lies above a top surface of the mattressand the mattress has a first width defined between the first side andthe second side of the deck along a length of the second barrier, astowed position wherein the top surface of the second barrier is belowthe top surface of the mattress, and an assist position wherein the topsurface of the second barrier is above the top surface of the mattressand the second barrier engages the mattress to cause the mattress tohave a second width between the first side and the second side of thedeck along the length of the first barrier and the second barrier, andthe second width is less than the first width.
 11. The patient supportapparatus of claim 9, wherein the first siderail includes a linkagehaving a first bar and a second bar and the first bar and the second barare pivotably coupled to the first barrier and to the frame.
 12. Thepatient support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first bar has a firstend pivotably coupled to the first barrier and a second end pivotablycoupled to the frame wherein the first end of the first bar pivots abouta first axis substantially parallel to a length dimension of the deckand the second end of the first bar pivots about a second axissubstantially parallel to the length dimension of the deck.
 13. Thepatient support apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first siderailfurther includes a slide shaft coupled to the first barrier and operableto move the first barrier along a path substantially perpendicular tothe first side of the deck.
 14. The patient support apparatus of claim9, wherein the first siderail further includes a first slide assemblycoupled to the first barrier and operable to move the first siderailbetween the barrier position and the assist position.
 15. The patientsupport apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first slide assembly includesa slide shaft movable relative to the frame and a shaft lock coupled tothe frame to move between a locked position disallowing movement of theslide shaft relative to the frame and an unlocked position allowingmovement of the slide shaft relative to the frame.
 16. A patient supportapparatus comprising a base, a frame coupled to the base, a decksupported by the frame and movable relative to the frame between asubstantially horizontal bed position and an articulated position, thedeck including at least a head section, a foot section spaced-apart fromthe head section, and a seat section situated between the head sectionand the foot section, the deck further including a head end, a foot endspaced-apart from the head end and substantially parallel to the headend, a first side extending between the head end and the foot end andsubstantially perpendicular to the head end, and a second sidespaced-apart from the first side and extending substantially parallel tothe first side between the head end and the foot end, and a first notchformed in the deck between the head section and the foot section andarranged to extend from the first side toward the second side of thedeck, and a first siderail coupled to the frame, the first siderailincluding a first barrier and a first linkage, wherein the firstsiderail is movable between a barrier position in which the firstbarrier is substantially above the deck and the first linkage ispositioned to lie out of the first notch, a stowed position in which thefirst barrier is substantially below the deck, and an assist position inwhich the first barrier is substantially above the deck and the firstlinkage extends into the first notch.
 17. The patient support apparatusof claim 16, further comprising a second siderail coupled to the frame,the second siderail including a second barrier and a second linkage,wherein the deck is formed to include a second notch positioned betweenthe head section and the foot section and arranged to extend from thesecond side toward the first side of the deck, and the second siderailis movable between a barrier position in which the second barrier issubstantially above the deck and the second linkage lies out of thesecond notch, a stowed position in which the second barrier issubstantially below the deck and the second linkage lies out of thesecond notch, and an assist position in which the second barrier issubstantially above the deck and the second linkage extends into thesecond notch.
 18. The patient support apparatus of claim 16, wherein thedeck includes a deck footprint defined by a length dimension of the deckextending from the head end of the deck to a foot end of the deck and awidth dimension of the foot section of the deck, and the first barrierof the first siderail is substantially above the deck and outside thedeck footprint when the first siderail is in the barrier position, thefirst barrier is substantially below the deck when in the stowedposition, and the first barrier is substantially above the deck and inthe deck footprint when in the assist position.
 19. The patient supportapparatus of claim 18, wherein the first barrier when in the stowedposition is also in the deck footprint.
 20. The patient supportapparatus of claim 16, wherein the first siderail includes a first slideshaft coupled to the first barrier and to cause the first siderail toslide laterally between the barrier position and the assist positionalong a path substantially perpendicular to the first side of the deck.